Already caught up in the “sand” storm, Punjab Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh was once again being targeted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This time, for his alleged involvement in the land scam — categorically refuted by the Minister.
AAP MlA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Wednesday accused Rana Gurjit and his family of carrying out huge bank and land scams. He alleged that Rana Gurjit has purchased land, in Soonk village of Mohali district, which cannot be purchased under the East Punjab Consolidation Act, passed by the Vidhan Sabha.
He alleged that Rana Gurjit has taken Rs 109 crore loan to buy this land with the collector rate of Rs 2.50 lakh per acre. “This clearly proves that the banks are also involved in the scam,” he said.
The party has sought an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to fix charges of criminal negligence against Rana Gurjit.
Besides, the party has also urged the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to sack the Minister without any further delay for his scandalous and shady land-bank deals.
Already, AAP, along with the SAD and the BJP, has all along been demanding Rana Gurjit’s resignation on the allegations of impropriety. It was alleged that Rana Gurjit carried out benami transactions through his employees to purchase sand mines contracts in the recent auction.
Rubbishing one-man commission of Justice (retired) JS Narang to look into the allegations, the opposition parties have been demanding probe by the Enforcement Directorate, Income tax authorities, and the CBI.
In fresh attack, AAP alleged that Rana Gurjit facilitate girdwari of 142 kanal land of Soonk village in his and his family members’ name “that too within 34 days while throwing to the wind all laws and rules, which is not at all possible”.
“Rana Gurjit, in connivance with certain bank officers, cheated the Union Bank of India and raised a whopping loan of Rs 109 crore against approximate 142 kanal owned by his family in village Soonk, while the collector rate of one acre is only 2.50 lakh, that is the total land of Rana’s family is not more than Rs 50 lakh worth of market value but he has managed to raise a loan of Rs 109 crore,” he said.
Armed with the relevant documents from state Revenue Department, etc, Khaira accused Rana Gurjit and his family members of “blatantly violating” Section 42-A of The East Punjab land Holdings Act, 1948, according to which no village common land or Shamlat land or Hasab Rasab can be partitioned or changed to any person or persons.
He alleged that Rana Gurjit fraudulently manipulated to get 458 kanals of shamlat land or gair mumkin pahad in favour of his brother and sister-in-law.
He also accused the Minister of making “false public statement” disowning Kulwinderpal Singh as his ex-employee while the said person is present during the execution of sale deed in the favor of Rana Gurjit Singh’s family on May 17 and 18, 2017, at the Sub Tehsil Majri.